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CCNA B ETTER NEW SPAPERS COMPETITION 2000 oakvillebeaver.com T h e O a k v il l e Save up to 1 * I U 112 Speers Rd., Oakville (Ju st w e s t o f Kerr) · S ee M a n a g e r fo r details Sheridan designers i Oakville says its 1 show their form j Easter Prayers ¥ H o m e s & g a rd e n s i F o c u s WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18,2001 Lawnrrxnver Semce ] C c p rrh from W v -parts CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC. I 1661 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga DO fT n o w : ^c" 'M o w " 822-4211 A Metroland Publication Vol. 39 No. 46 Lake rescue was life-altering By Roberta Avery SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER F e rn a n d o C a b ra l w ill n e v e r f o r g e t h i s 'E a s t e r m i r a c l e ' their second child in August, said his ordeal began when the motor on his new 3.5-metre aluminum boat stalled when he was fishing off Thombury harbour, about 20 kilometres west of Collingwood around 6 p.m. Thursday. His frantic efforts to restart the boat caught the attention of Don Kline of Mississauga, who spotted Cabral about 200 metres from shore. "It was really rough out there and the wind was blowing off shore big time, and the way he was struggling with the boat I An Oakville man who spent a night tossed around by giant waves in a tiny open boat on the frigid waters of Georgian Bay is calling his rescue by a coast guard heli copter an "Easter miracle." "It was ugly out there, I didn't think I was going to make it. I thought I wouldn't be home with my family for Easter, but when you put your faith in God, miracles can happen," said Fernando Cabral. 32, from his hospital bed in Collingwood on Good Friday. Cabral, whose wife Kathy is expecting knew he was in big trouble," said Kline who called police. A Canadian Coast Guard search for Cabral using a helicopter, a cutter and an air plane continued through the night, said Capt. David Elit. "It was really bad out ther. We had reports of nine-foot waves," said Elit. With one hand baling the icy water washing into the bottom of the boat, Cabral, dressed only in jeans, a T-shirt and cover alls, fought with his one paddle to keep the boat upright in the high waves as the wind swept him further and further from shore. "I was very cold and I was very lonely," said Cabral shuddering at the memory. (See `M an' page A2) Fernando Cabral: lived an `Easter m iracle' Good news & bad news comes with 16% hike in real estate market House values rising but the tax man will be big winner By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Photo by Ron Kuzyk Tim Clapham, owner of Good Burgers on Bronte Road and property owner Bill Sargant couldn't believe their eyes when strong winds Thursday blew down this tree. Falling tree delays business opening By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The opening of a seasonal fast-food restaurant in Bronte on the long weekend was delayed when a giant aging maple tree crashed through its roof. The maple tree, believed to be more than 100 years old, fell victim to last Thursday's high winds. The tree fell onto the roof of Good To Go Burgers & Stuff on Bronte Road in the harbour area at around 5 p.m. No one was injured, but the mishap delayed the Good Friday opening of the seasonal business and prob ably cost owner Tim Clapham more in lost business than it will to repair the damage. "We were actually very lucky," said Tim Clapham, owner of Good To Go. Employee Jane Nieuwpoort had just left for the day. "Because the building is of a log cabin construction - and the solid bench seating - kept the tree from taking the whole side of the building out. The strength of the building stopped the tree. "I was coming around the comer when it happened," he continued. "I was coming down Jones Street. Traffic was bad, being a Thursday night before a holiday week end, so I stopped to talk to some people. Then I heard a bang and I thought a branch had come down on a tin shed. W hen I came around the com er I saw the whole tree sitting on the roof. (See `Luck' page A2) Rising house values may be good news for homeowners, but could prove a headache at tax time. Halton Region is analyzing revised market values to see what they'll do to local tax bills under Current Value Assessment (CVA) and how to soften the blow. Regional councillors held an infor mation meeting last Wednesday where they heard that Halton's residential mar ket values have gone up by an average 16%. Multi-residences, mostly in Burlington, have jumped the most in value -- by 25.6%. Under the CVA property tax system, property taxes are calculated by multi plying market value by local tax rates (municipal, regional and education rates). The combined local tax rates, set ear lier this year, will add $78.94 on the average homeowner's tax bill. However, it now appears that higher property values will increase the other part of the CVA equation. The Region must now decide on mit igation policies to protect homeowners, seniors, disabled homeowners, charities, and multi-residences. Those policies will go to Regional Council for approval on Wednesday, April 25 to meet a provincial deadline of April 30. The public can access the Region's proposals as of Friday, April 20 -- and have a say at council on the April 25. The information will be on the Region's website at www.region.halton.on.ca. Copies of the report will also be available at regional headquarters located at 1151 Bronte Rd. The Region also plans to advertise its key recommendations, in lay terms, in local newspapers on Friday, April 20. Stand warned, CVA is complex. The councillors agreed. "This was the most convoluted pre sentation I've ever seen," said Ward 1 Councillor Kevin Flynn at last week's information meeting, noting he meant no offence to presenter, acting CEO Dave Birkett. In 1998, the Province moved to CVA, which mandated regular updates and set rules for municipal tax policies. While Birkett said the Region wants to "move to full CVA as quickly as pos sible," it will still find ways to offset some of the larger increases in the near future. Regional staff favour continuing a residential phase-in program, but for a shorter period, one or two years instead of the previous three. Homeowners, who may enjoy a 16% increase in the market value of their home, may rue the increase when faced with multiplying it against the local tax rate to achieve their final tax billing. That's where the Region will step in with relief, for the worst-case scenarios. Homeowners would pay only the first 15% or $300 (whichever comes first) increase on their overall tax bill and the Region would offset the rest from its budget. The Region makes its residential cal culations based on an average $185,000 home. "Let's do the figures based on a $200,000 or $250,000 home. Let's get realistic here," said Burlington regional councillor John Taylor. If the CVA increases weren't enough of an irritation, local politicians saw red upon hearing that taxes collected over and above the provincial average will flow out of Halton to more needy areas. "As always, Oakville is really thrilled at the way this is falling out," said a sar castic Mayor Ann Mulvale. "This tax system is the biggest screw-up I've ever seen," said the mayor. "Maybe we should be like Toronto. You call the Premier a liar and get your million dollars." Mulvale added, "Just because you've done a good job and encouraged eco nomic development, you get shafted, again." Halton Region celebrates AAA credit rating Halton Region's AAA credit rating is standing firm. That was the news after two of the three external rating services that look at the Region's long-term debt amalga mated. Last year, Halton's AAA credit rat ing was confirmed by M oody's Investors Services of New York, the Dominion Bond Rating Service and the Canadian Bond Rating Service (CBRS). However, last October the CBRS and Standard & Poor (S&P) began amalgamating their Canadian opera tions. Part of the job was to harmonize all ratings and early this week, S&P announced confirmation that Halton Region's long-standing AAA credit rat ing remains. The rating means that the Region, as well as H alton's municipalities -- Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Halton Hills -- and the regional Catholic and public school boards, can borrow money at the lowest possible interest rates. "Standard & Poor's confidence in Halton reaffirms our fiscal health and sets the tone for continued economic strength within our region," said regional chair Joyce Savoline. "Our AAA credit rating with Standard & Poor is great news. This reaffirms that the Region's effective financial management allows us to pro actively deal with various financial pressures and growth challenges," said Halton's director of budgets and fiscal policy David Birkett. S&P's determination is based on the following: · financial strength gained from very low net debt and substantial reserve and liquidity; · strong population and taxable assessment growth (2.4% in 1999 and 2% in 2000); · solid local economic indicators in 1999 and 2000 as building permit val ues rose and the unemployment rate and the number of people receiving income support continued to decline significandy. Regional officials said Halton's abil ity to manage its capital program is an important credit strength, since it pro vides the flexibility to maximize payas-you-go financing and, limit debt. The rating also means that the Region has the ability to control servic ing costs in spite of financial challenges and growth pressures. INSIDE to d a y ' s paper JV6 Editorials........................_______ m ________ B 1 Business.__ ........... ................ B6 _______ n Classified___ ____....___ _______ CA Homes & Gardens........ ________ D 1 Sports------- ...-- ....... ------- ....D 6 Horn d&wy.Busms Depot S^eere RoadCapef, 77ieSay. Canacfiao Tre. Ewasdare /rtJenors, S*i Us Autocente, HoM Part, Home Depst Mart's Ifa* Wafwse. Shw JtfafTM«erass, *teadwvate fwamre. iateshore Place. S»y HamJeira, FutureStop, Mite Suss Chalet Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement #435-201 D r. 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